Winter,Spring,Summer & Fall: Sugarloaf is known for its big mountain ski adventures but, for those of you who don’t ski, it’s still worth the trip. Kingfield is the Aspen ski town of the east and with that comes some great places to go and fun things to do. For those looking for outdoor adventure the Black Fly Loop is a perfect trail system to ride snowmobiles on. With over 228 miles of trails you will encounter some great scenic spots along with places to stop and grab something to eat. As a matter of fact Judson’s Pub is at the end of one of the trails so you can enjoy some hot food and warm up by the fire. Not into the great outdoors, no problem! The Grand Summit Hotel on Sugarloaf Mountain offers guest some luxury accomodatins along with great services and wonderful views. Schedule a deep tissue massage at the spa or plan to spend the day soaking up the warmth in their hot tub overlooking the Bigelow Mountain range. The Loaf offers some happening night spots like Gepetto’s Side Bar and The Widowmaker, known for their music and dancing. The Kingfield area is a great place to vacation even if skiing isn’t your thing!
Tag: Spring
Mountain Biking: Choose Your Ride
Spring,Summer & Fall: Mountain biking is a sport I have grown to love. The challenge of making my way to the top of some of the best biking trail in the state and then enjoying the beauty that surrounds me is addictive. Even if you aren’t looking for the challenge of making it on rugged terrain it is a sport which can be enjoyed by many. There are some great family oriented trails that offer scenic beauty and easy riding in the wilderness. One of those trails that I have come to love is the Wild River Trail which runs from Gilead into New Hampshire. This is a 16 mile trail which was once a railroad track that has since been covered and now offers mountain bike enthusiast a way to follow the Wild River on a great ride. The surface is packed dirt with only a few spot of loose gravel so almost any age could handle this ride. The sounds of the rushing water and the peace of the wooded trail offers riders a break from the craziness of everyday life. Another easy riding trail which is located is the Carrabassett River Rail Trail. This is another trail that follows the railroad tracks which means it’s a flat easy ride. The trail actually runs between Sugarloaf Mountain and the Bigelow Range the sites are amazing and in the fall the leaves are spectacular. If you are looking for more challenging backcountry riding there is access to the Bigelow Preserve where you can ride until your hearts content. The terrain is more varied and there are some great climbs and great views along the way. There are plenty of great mountain biking spots and here is a few to get to you going.
Spring Activities: Tackle Those Spring Projects With Fresh Ideas
Spring: Spring time in Maine means clean-up time from the winter months. If you are a home owner that means attending to the lawn and possibly getting flower and vegetable gardens ready for spring planting. This is the perfect time of year to attend one of Maine’s largest Home and Garden Shows of the season. It’s also a great place to get some new ideas on plantings, garden design as well as home improvement advice. The Home and Garden Show At The Fryeburg Fairgrounds happens each year during mid May. The Fairgrounds offers the perfect venue for attendees with over eight buildings choke full of vendors and six acres of lawn and garden equipment and displays. If you can’t find what you are looking for at this show you may not be able to find it at all. The show offers seminars on gardens from how to’s as well as solid advice from a whole host of experts on site. They even have a “Window Box Wonder” contest where participants can compete to win a $100 gift certificate to the garden center of their choice. This is a great show and a great way to get new ideas for your spring clean-up.
Mining For Gem: Go Treasure Hunting In Maine
Spring, Summer & Fall: I remember as a kid digging in the dirt behind my house hoping to find a buried treasure. My neighbors showed me the collection of rocks they had discovered while mining for minerals which sparked my interest and fueled my enthusiasm to continue to dig amongst the worms and bugs. I can still see those beautiful chunks of milky and rose quartz. My favorite was the piece of green tourmaline shimmering amongst the rock it formed in. Maine is actually a mineral rich state and mining for gems can be a fun activity for all ages. You don’t even need special equipment but, I would recommend a pair of gloves and safety glasses, a hammer and a chisel if you have one. There are places around the state where mining is permitted. One such place is Western Maine Mineral Adventures in Paris. This mine is open to the public and is also home to the famous Mount Mica mines. There visitors can find albite, beryl, pyrite and quartz to name a few. If you are looking for quartz and tourmaline you may want to visit Mt. Apatite in Auburn. The mines there are a short walk on a marked trail system and the minerals are plenty. Take some time and go on a mining adventure, it is a great family activity with older kids. You never know what treasures you may find!
Singles: Get Outdoors And Meet Someone!
Fall, Winter, Spring & Fall: Attention all you singles…are you sick of hitting the bar scene only to leave disappointed. Perhaps you need to change your strategy and embrace the great outdoors. Maine is known as vacationland for a reason and there is no better reason to take advantage of all the outdoors activities available to you. And who knows, it just may lead to an opportunity to meet that someone special. One thing you could do is take advantage of the ski clinics which are available at all the major ski areas around the state. Sunday River in Bethel offers a great “learn to ski” program designed to get you out on the slopes that very day. This is a great way to learn something new and meet new people while you are at it. All of you ladies, why not sign up for one of LL Bean’s Outdoor Discovery classes like their fly fishing clinic. Nothing connects people more than the great outdoors and you never know who you will meet! Not into fishing or cold weather, then why not try golf. You can take group lessons at most golf clubs and it’s such a social sport as much social networking is done on the golf course. One of the great things about taking part in one of these clinics is there is no awkwardness that can sometimes be felt because you are all there for the same reason, to learn something new which can be quite a bonding experience. Meeting other singles in Maine is not impossible but, you may have to start thinking outside of the box and possibly even taking it outside!